‘Nurturing Non-violent Boys’ conversation

Acknowledging the accepting the role that men and boys have in realising a gender-based violence-free society, and in recognition of the massive investments of government, civil society and the academic community to shift the dominant narrative of boys and men as perpetrators of violence against women and children to peaceful, productive citizens promoting gender equality and non-violence, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) are inviting 50 critical stakeholders to an inaugural ‘Nurturing Non-violent Boys’ conversation.

A diverse panel will share evidence of promising care practices, policies and interventions focusing on the boy child, as well as make recommendations for collective action towards successfully reducing and eventually eliminating violence against women and children through nurturing peaceful boys.

The panelists include: NMCF Interim CEO, Dr Stanley Maphosa (PhD), Senior Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Practitioner, Charlotte Nonkululeko Motsoari, Author, Founder and Senior Mentor of the Young Men Movement, kabelo Chabalala, Activist, Founder of Anti Vioelnce Buddies Club, Nehwoh Belinda, Afrika Tikkun Rep, Segopotso Maribe and Senior Lecturer at the University of Witwatersrand, Prof. Malose Langa.

Keep an eye out as we bring you more on the 'Nurturing Non-violent Boys' conversation.

#ServeLikeMandela #16DaysofActivism

The Panelists

rlotte Motsoari
 
I am a qualified and registered Social Worker from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. I am currently working as a Senior Mental health and Psychosocial Support practitioner in the MHPSS programme at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. I provide mental health and psychosocial support to victims of  various forms of violence( organised violence, war trauma and torture, SGBV and other gross human rights violations). Part of my work involves advocating for clients’ access to medical, social and legal services with the aim of promoting holistic wellbeing.
 
My professional interests are around providing trauma-informed mental health and psychosocial services to individuals, group and communities as well as the integration of contextually relevant MHPSS interventions within processes of rehabilitation.
I also provide capacity building and support to local stakeholders and regional organisations around wellness, trauma informed practice and integration of MHPSS as part of transitional justice processes.

I also provide supervision support for students and interns.

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Dr Stanley Maphosa

Dr Stanley Maphosa is the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund), overseeing five programmes, and the M&E and Special projects. He also leads the executive committee (EXCO) members of the Fund that cover finance, human resources, fundraising and engagements. Dr Stanley also plays an integral part in the organisational governance and strategic development the work of the Fund.
Dr Maphosa concluded his PhD in Social Sciences degree at the University of Fort Hare (SA) in 2020 where he majored on Youth Sociology or Youth Agency and participation in decision making processes.  He also holds a Master’s Degree in Development Studies from the University of South Africa (UNISA), Honours Degree in Development Studies from the same university and a Post Graduate Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). He holds a qualification in Policy Formulation, Implementation and Evaluation (Stellenbosch University) and Disaster Risk Reduction (University of Cape Town). His first degree was in English and Communications and he is also a holder of a Diploma in Primary Education (Teaching). He is a members of various local and international merit based professional associations.

Prior to joining the Fund, Dr Stanley Maphosa worked as the International and National Liaison Manager at the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) for seven years,  where was involved in the stakeholder engagements with governments, science councils,  embassies, civil society, parliament and science organisations nationally, regionally, Pan African and globally.  He has been involved in science diplomacy, science engagements, science advise and science communication through the work of the public entity of the government of the Republic of South Africa under the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI). Before that, Dr Stanley Maphosa worked for World Vision International (WVI) for 12 years from grassroots level at KwaMaphumulo, Insiza and Limpopo up to executive level where he among other things became the Operations Director and later as Advocacy Director covering the whole country as well as nine countries in Southern Africa. Before his work at World Vision International, Dr Maphosa was a school teacher at various levels of the education sector including being a Journalism Lecturer. Dr Stanley has been involved in the not-for-profit sector and government in executive capacity, since 2008 and is a specialist in community development, disaster risk management, advocacy and internationalisation of science. His main success was the establishment of science academies in least developed countries across Africa.

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Mr Kabelo Chabalala
 
Recently worked with Primestars on “ What about the boys” Campaign.
Author of, A journey from boyhood to manhood.  Founder and senior mentor at the Young Men Movement (YMM), an organisation that focuses on the reconstruction of the socialisation of boys to create a new cohort of men in our society accracross globe. A columnist for the Sowetan, my column appears twice a month in the paper on Fridays.
 
The Community Builder Awardee of the year 2019 for the Marcia Lebambo Foundation.
Community Builder Awardee of the year 2019 for the Marcia Lebambo Foundation.
One of 200 Obama Leaders: Africa 2018
Finland Correspondent Participant 2018.
2018 Top 100 Most Influential Young South African (Avance Media).
Former PR Specialist for Lingashoni and Mzansi Magic.
Former Columnist for the The Citizen newspaper.
Former columnist for The Star and Pretoria News and the Independent Media Group
Former motorist scribe for Weekend Wheel (Saturday Star).
 
A feminist at heart, big advocate for equality and also an advocate for the welling being of the boy-child.  A Preacher, with  a Theology certificate from the Johannesburg Bible College (JBC). By profession, a journalist, was a Senior Layout Sub-Editor for Independent Media Group. Prior to that, an Advertising Specialist and Consultant at the Pretoria News. Holds a Diploma and B-Tech in Journalism, obtained from the Tshwane University of Technology.

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Nehwoh Belinda
 
An ambitious and passionate lady, Nehwoh began her career in Cameroon and later moved to South Africa, where she spent 10 years working for People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA). A fervent feminist and children’s rights activist, it was here that she began advocating for women’s rights in the various roles she held over the decade. Nehwoh then joined Afrika Tikkun as the Gender-based Violence Programme Coordinator in 2012. Just three years later she was promoted to General Manager of Afrika Tikkun Uthando Centre. Harnessing her years of experience of working with women and young people, she started the Young Urban Women and Young Urban Men’s programme within Afrika Tikkun with the aim of providing a safe space for young people to discuss the issues affecting them in their communities and advocate for change.

Nehwoh started the Anti Violence (AV) Buddies Clubs in three schools in Diepsloot, with the aim of helping to create awareness about violence and to develop responsible citizenship. Her work has been presented at different platforms, both nationally and internationally, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and the African Union (AU). Currently, overseeing almost 100 staff members, Nehwoh and her team deliver on Afrika Tikkun’s vibrant Cradle to Career programmes. She also sits as a board member for a few organisations including Gravitas, 1in9 campaign, people opposing women Abuse (writing project), the Children’s Memorial Institute and WGL. With over 10 years of experience working with women, Nehwoh’s passion is to see women grow in all spheres of life, and she will stop at nothing to ensure they do just that.
 

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Segopotso Maribe

Segopotso is a 14 year old, wondrous and visionary boy with great ambitions. He is a voice of the voiceless, and a boy who manages to step up for himself and his peers. He is a grade 9 student in inner-city Johannesburg who currently sits as the President of Young Urban Men self-advocacy group in Braamfontein. He is also a member of the Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Parliament and has an unmatched skill of playing the djembe drum. Segopotso takes on many roles at his youth centre, he is always demonstrating leadership skills and always willing to tackle a challenge. He has recently signed up as a member of the Duke of Edinburgh’s award – a Young Urban Man who says that nothing will make him act out of character.

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Malose Langa

Malose Langa is a Professor and Senior Lecturer in the School of Community and Human Development, Department of Psychology, at the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa and Associate Researcher at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Recompilation (CSVR).  His research interests include risk-taking behaviours amongst the youth and their role in politics, substance abuse and addiction, trauma of collective violence and the psychology of men (masculinity) in post-apartheid South Africa. He has published book chapters and journal articles on violence and other topics on masculinities. He is the author of Becoming Men: Black Masculinities in a South African Township and the recent co-edited book entitled: youth in South Africa: agency, invisibility and development published by Mistra. Prof Langa has recently completed his LLB degree, following his extensive experience where he has served as an expert witness as a Psychologist ranging with specific focus on cases of torture and other human rights violations.

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